Malaria is a disease that can be potentially fatal, and is caused by a parasite called plasmodium. It spreads via a bite from a female mosquito that has been infected. Once infected, an individual could suffer flu-like symptoms, fevers, diarrhea, fatigue or many other symptoms. If a person has any of these symptoms within a year of returning from an infected area (normally tropical or sub-tropical regions), then they should get tested immediately; if anything, just to rule out malaria.

As mentioned, malaria can have the tendency to be fatal, but if diagnosed and treated early enough, most individuals make a full recovery. The disease is usually treated by using anti-malarial medications, the type and length of any treatment depending on a variety of factors, including where the infection occurred, the type of malaria contracted, age of the patient, whether pregnant or not and the severity of the symptoms.

Five types of drug are usually used to treat the disease and depending on what type of malaria is present, the doctor may prescribe a certain one, or combination of these drugs. These five drugs are atovaquone plus proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine and proguanil.

Mild cases of malaria can be treated at home once prescribed the medication, whereas more severe cases will require hospital treatment. Sometimes these drugs can be administered intravenously. All malaria treatments can make you feel tired and weak for several weeks.

Malaria

Many women suffer changing emotions after giving birth.  One minute they can feel happy and excited and the next they can feel upset or depressed.  Some women experience sleeping problems and can lose their appetites.  These symptoms can be put down to the hormones present after giving birth and usually disappear within a few days but for some unfortunate women they don’t go away and it is necessary to get medical help.  Many women feel ashamed to admit to having postpartum depression so they will delay seeking medical help. The symptoms of postpartum depression can last for months if left untreated thus harming relationships between mother and child or mother and partner.

Postpartum depression can occur from between one month to one year after the child is born.    Symptoms of postpartum depression include, difficulties sleeping, tearfulness, loss of libido, sadness, guilt, depression and weight loss or gain.  In the worst cases though, the woman can suffer with feelings of paranoia, or wanting to hurt the baby or themselves.  They can find it difficult to bond with the baby and may require hospitalization.

Causes of postpartum depression can include, stress, extreme changes in hormone levels, fatigue, or responsibility involved in the care of the new child.  Postpartum can be treated with antidepressants or with counseling.

Postpartum Depression

Bipolar disorder is more commonly known as manic depression and is actually a fairly common mood disorder. The condition can be characterized by alternating episodes of depression and euphoria and there are several symptoms associated with it that affect the daily functioning of an individual as well as the relationships they have with others. Some of these symptoms include depression and a feeling of despondency as well as irregular sleeping patterns, loss of interest in various activities which may have been pleasurable in the past and suicidal thoughts.

The difference between bipolar disorder and major depression is the instances of manic episodes, sometimes described as great emotional highs in between bouts of depression. When an individual goes through these manic episodes or states, the symptoms can vary greatly and include an increase in energy, restlessness, poor judgment, euphoria, lack of concentration and a less than normal requirement for sleep. The afflicted individual may also appear very irritable, speak rapidly and thing they are invincible, or at least have more capabilities than they actually possess.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder can fortunately be treated, and more often than not the people treated do achieve a quite substantial change in the mood swings they suffer, allowing them to lead an almost normal live. Treatment involves medication known as mood stabilizers.